Thing is, there have always been robots – or robot-adjacent products at the show, but the category is about as mixed as bags come. That last one is important for a lot of reasons.
#Nimble robotics thrunheatertechcrunch drivers#
There are a few key drivers for the growing presence of robots in Vegas this week. But robotics’ slow permeation of technology and culture means they’re well represent and here to stay. In 2023, however, someone who operates solely on the industrial side of the robotics equation could easily fill four-plus days here. But this has always been a consumer show, as evidenced by the presence of firms like Samsung and Sony. Their understandable misgiving in all of this is that the “C” in CES once stood for “consumer.” The CTA – the governing body that puts on the event – has been very aggressive in its insistence that CES simply stands for CES now. I grabbed a cup of coffee with a robotics investor earlier this week who asked if I thought the show would be worth it for them. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Putting the “R” in CES CES, the world’s largest annual consumer technology trade show, is being held in person through January 7, with some companies deciding to participate virtually only or canceling their attendance due to concerns over the major surge in COVID-19 cases. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 05: Attendees pass through a hallway at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Day 1 of CES 2022, Januin Las Vegas, Nevada. CES is starting to take robots seriously. Over the past several shows, however, there’s been a perfect storm. I’ve done robot roundups at the show for years, and for a long time it mostly felt like pulling teeth. In all of this, however, something altogether different is happening for robots. The supply chain and economic crises are no doubt contributing to what feels like a general slowdown of announcements, and many of the bigger companies have drifted away from big, live shows in general. Many of the lifers decided the whole spectacle wasn’t worth it for them (a decision I certainly respect). It’s a homecoming for a town that has – more often than not – made your life hell, but for which you have a certain, unexplainable affection.Īgain, it’s impossible to say anything definitive at this point, but I do feel comfortable noting that both the show and city just feel quieter in 2023. It’s great seeing all of the familiar faces slightly worse for wear after three very difficult years. As such, it was strange sitting two in a row out, and it’s even stranger beginning back at it again. A holiday sullying constant at the very beginning of every year. They start blending after like number two. I’d say conservatively that I’ve been to CES 15 times. Still, after weeks of meetings, emails and press releases, I do feel confident painting some relevant trends in broad strokes, as I shovel some hotel buffet scrambled eggs.Īnother prevailing bit of weirdness in all of this is, of course, the whole pandemic dealie. The show will almost certainly spill into next week’s Actuator. I write this preamble largely to say that what follows will be neither a definitive nor final account of robots at CES. For us, that means the news coverage shifts a little bit, as we have more time for demos and carve out an hour between meetings here or there to seek out some weird stuff that would have almost certainly succumbed to the email deluge in our respective inboxes (did I mention that I came back to 1,600 unread messages last week?) Today’s start of the show really refers to the floor opening. I flew into Vegas on Monday, and have spent the past two days meeting with startups and investors, attending press conferences and and covering smaller pre-show events that purport to offer a microcosm of the week to come – putting the teapot before the tempest, if you’re a fan of mixed metaphors.ĬES week lined up a little lopsided for Actuator.
One of the dirty little secrets of CES coverage is that – by the official start of the show, us reporter types have already been on the ground hustling for at least 48 hours. Welcome back to Actuator and happy first day of CES! This will never not feel weird to say – and not just because of the highly objective “happy” bit. To get a roundup of TechCrunch’s biggest and most important robotics stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday at 11 a.m.
0 kommentar(er)
